Perhaps it’s time to re-advertise for a new First & Deputy First Minister - Elliott
Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone , Tom Elliott MLA has suggested perhaps we should now consider advertising for a new First & Deputy First Ministers after yet another debacle when Ian Paisley and Martin McGuiness failure to appoint a new Victims Commissioner .
Tom said: “We seem to be witnessing a new image being displayed by the two Ministers and an apparent coming to an end of the honeymoon period between Sinn Fein and DUP. The previously well staged media events of all smiles and handshakes seem to have disappeared and we must conclude that they were unable to reach agreement on the shortlist for the post. The statements from both Ministers are a sad indictment that even after 5 months it took them to decide the selection process could be better? It does not instil much confidence in the whole process or their office.
Perhaps, the portrayed image of a workable partnership between Sinn Fein and DUP is disintegrating before any major hard decisions have been reached. The proposed Irish Language Act, academic selection, reform of public administration and the siteing of a new stadium will prove even more difficult than deciding on the selection of a new Victims Commissioner. The biggest problem is the lack of money and Pre Budget report by the Chancellor this week that the amount will be less than previously received and no additional money as the DUP had promised .The Office of OFM/DFM were able to allocate an additional £6m over three years to pay for even more special advisers perhaps Peter Robinson will now reallocate this money to a genuine area of need.
The decision does not help the many victims who are still not getting the help they deserve after almost 40 years. It is time that Paisley and McGuiness showed more respect to all the other political parties and stop doing shady and shabby deals behind closed doors. The present NI Executive has already had 5 months to bed in and it is now time to deliver tangible results to the people of Northern Ireland.”